Education News, Analysis, and Commentary
People said they liked last year’s book list, so here we go again for this year. Like half my friends I’m hoping to find the new Grant biography and Against the Grain in my stocking on Christmas morning. But rather than a wishlist, here are a handful of the books, new and old but more off the …
2018 holiday book list tomorrow. Lina Bankert on how to think about tight and loose in school networks. Chad Aldeman on how teacher pension data are a treasure trove on questions far beyond just retirement policy. Hailly Korman on the juvenile justice bill on its way to the President’s desk. Related, have you played “Rigged” yet? …
Predictions are hard, but here’s some of what I’m watching this year. First, ICYMI – 2026 Eduwonk In and Out list here. Holiday books list here if you still want reading ideas. Bonus one that didn’t make the list, still reading, is Hotshot: A Life on Fire. If you enjoyed books like Educated or Welcome …
I was going to keep posting light over the holidays and early January, with an ‘in and out’ list and things in that vein. But Jimmy Carter’s passing certainly occasions mention. First, though, in case you missed it, here’s the Eduwonk holiday book list (good books for any time of year) and the year-end Wonkyfolk. …
Continue reading “Jimmy Carter 1924-2024. Plus Rabbits and Fish.”
ICYMI here’s the Eduwonk holiday book (and gift) list. For the last WonkyFolk of the year Jed and I sat down with Nina Rees, outgoing CEO of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. It’s an interesting conversation about the sector, its politics, what Nina has learned, and what’s next. She also shares her own …
Continue reading “The American Dream Lives At WonkyFolk: Special Guest Nina Rees!”
Apparently a Freddie deBoer column about education got spiked, he published it himself on his Substack this weekend: What follows is a piece that I was commissioned to write for an education publication called The Grade. On submission they declared that the piece was, quote, “too hot” for publication. As I said to them, that response demonstrates …
Continue reading “Can We Talk? Especially About What We Ought To Expect From Schools?”
Kris Amundson is a former Democratic state legislator in Virginia, she’s been a school board member in Fairfax County, and she led NASBE as its CEO. Her book on the pandemic and education was a good look at that mess and on the holiday book list. She’s currently a consultant – and a good savvy …
Happy New Year. I sat down with Jim Cowen just before the holidays to talk education policy on his podcast. Among other topics, why are the Democrats against parent’s rights instead of competing for that mantle? And why is it so hard to tell parents the truth about school performance? Michelle Croft, Alex Spurier, Julie …
Happy New Year. K-12 education is the one issue where Democrats don’t think giving money and power to poor people is a good idea. And it’s the one issue where Republicans generally do. After two years of pandemic disruptions, parental frustration, and a political shift is 2022 the year we square that circle a bit? …
Continue reading “Loudoun County Backstory, DeVos’ Diligence, Bloomberg Punches, Empirical Music….”
This is not a feel-good holiday post – at least until the end. That’s coming, including the procrastinator’s book list. For today. A lot of people seem obsessed with the big kiss to Randi Weingarten in The Times, with the evolving headlines from “Can this Woman Save Public Education?” to the current “We Desperately Need Schools …